Special Interest Groups

Product and Process Innovation

 

 

 


Mission Statement

To provide a focus for academic and industrial organisations involved in the research and development of laser source and delivery technology and laser materials processing applications; to identify common needs and create the possibility of joint initiatives and activities.

Scope of the PPI Group includes:

The establishment of a UK-wide virtual laser laboratory or a consortium of UK laser processing research centres. Possibilities deriving or related to this concept include:

  • Launching a web-based directory of laser and laser related equipment and research personnel.
  • Providing a web-based Forum for researchers to communicate through.
  • Providing a web site portal for industry to access laser materials processing research laboratories.
  • Undertaking coordinating activities to address common interests and perhaps defining future needs (e.g. updating the UK Photonics Strategy).
  • Providing links with funding organisations (Photonics21, EU Commission, UK Government bodies).
  • Developing a bridge to cross the TRL 4-6 gap for the development of new products and processes/technologies.
  • Support an organisation, or a group of organisations, who can interact with the relevant research providers, identify potential commercialisation winners, create strategies for the development of those products or processes and carry out the development in conjunction with companies or individuals who could turn the development into a product.
  • The PPI Group could provide the forum for debate on technology transfer in the laser-processing context, squaring the circle between industrial customers looking for practical and economic solutions and research centres offering creativity and originality.
  • The PPI Group could provide research workshops and technology transfer activities.

A Message from the Chair of the group: Professor Lin Li, The University of Manchester.

Summer 2009

AILU's new Product and Process Innovation (PPI) Special Interest Group is one of several new SIGs that have been set up to serve the special needs and interests of members, in this case those in academia and other organisations involved in laser materials processing research and development.

Like all of AILU's SIGs, membership is free to those in the research community. At the most basic level the PPI Group provides networking opportunities, including a PPI forum on the AILU web site, accessible to members once they have logged in. This forum has already been put to good use for members to review and respond to the research topics identified in AILU's recently completed report on UK research in laser materials processing. > Read more

KTN funding for lasers in manufacturing

AILU has been successful in securing funding from the Photonics and Plastics (PPE) KTN to prepare a report on the theme of 'Exploiting laser technology in 21st Century UK manufacturing'.

The context for this report is threefold. Firstly, UK industry use of laser technology remains relatively low (see report in Issue 56, p16), only ~10% that of Germany industry, per unit of manufactured output. As a result UK industry is less likely to maintain, let alone improve, its world position in manufacturing in the face of demands for higher added value and greater component functionality, and continuing trends towards new materials and micro-scale engineering.

Secondly, the failure of the UK financial sector has caused politicians to turn more of their attention to the manufacturing sector with the hope that new incentives in manufacturing will follow.

Last but not least, R&D support and market demands are increasingly directed at goals such as cleaner environment, sustainable energy production and lower carbon forms of transportation; these in turn are creating new opportunities for lasers in manufacturing.

With the active support of AILU members, the output of this project will include a comprehensive directory of laser processes, assessing for each:
(i) its importance in terms of 21st century needs;
(ii) its Technology Readiness Level (TRL) in the UK; and
(iii) the UK’s current manufacturing and R&D capability.

As such, the work will benefit the strategic planning of UK manufacturing industry, research organisations and funding bodies.

Like the RULARDO project funded in 2008 by the Photonics KTN, this work is seen as an on-going activity requiring regular updating through AILU's Product and Process Innovation (PPI) Special Interest Group. This group, which represents UK industrial and academic groups involved in laser materials processing R&D, will play a major role in providing the content of the report.

Opportunities for laser job shops

Laser job shops play an important role in UK laser-based manufacturing, offering batch production capability and providing important proof of principle of the laser route and an interim production solution until the case for in-house manufacturing can be made and implemented.

The new PPE KTN funded project includes support for a strategic document identifying opportunities for laser subcontractors in such areas as machining of advanced materials, micro-scale processing and surface modification for a host of applications. As part of this exercise, the implications (e.g. clean room requirements, capital outlay, training requirements, manufacturing flexibility, materials handling, post-process inspection and certification, conformity of relevant processing standards) will be assessed.

However, with a greater awareness of future manufacturing needs, the subcontract laser community will be better able to benefit from new manufacturing initiatives and to support manufacturing industry. And by expanding the range of laser processes available for batch production, the job shop sector could play a major role in helping UK industry to better exploit laser technology and thereby become more productive and competitive in the world market.

Contact: Mike Green
E: mike@ailu.org.uk

The AILU Report on R&D in Laser Materials Processing: Identification of opportunities and Competency map of top-level providers

This report comes in two parts. Part 1 Identifies current UK research and development opportunities in laser materials processing and is based on the results of a brainstorming session involving invited members of the UK laser materials processing academic and industrial research community held in November 2008. Part 2 is a competency map of top-level UK providers of R&D in laser materials processing and is based on information collected during the Summer of 2008.

This report is also available for AILU Members to download from the Member’s area Document Library in the Strategy section.

Joining the PPI Group

Membership of the PPI Special Interest Group (SIG) is free and open to AILU members and Photonics KTN members alike.

To be added as a PPI SIG member simply contact the AILU office. If you are already an AILU member or have registered on the AILU web site, simply request to join. Otherwise, please include in the email your full contact details.

Why join?

As a member of the medical special interest group you will be alerted to workshops and other networking events, and will be given the opportunity of influencing the program of PPI SIG activities.

Also, as a member you will have access to the on-line PPI SIG Forum, where you can post a question of discussion point, respond to other peoples inputs, or simply review the existing material. However you use the forum it will be a worthwhile experience.

In all of these activities you will be connecting with other researchers, equipment suppliers and end users who share your interest in the application of lasers.

Accessing the on-line PPI SIG Forum

To access the forum you first need to login using your assigned name and password. The entry point is in the top right corner of this page. (tip: If you are still using the random number/letter password you were originally given, why not change it to something memorable by clicking on the ‘edit details’ link after you’ve logged in?)

Once you do this a link to the forum will appear in the left hand navigation column under ‘Laser User Groups’.

If you are looking for material for presentations - the DLM site is the place to go

The Technology Strategy Board

 

The Technology Strategy Board is all about driving innovation.

 


The Board's role is to stimulate technology-enabled innovation in the areas which offer the greatest scope for boosting UK growth and productivity. They promote, support and invest in technology research, development and commercialisation. They spread knowledge, bringing people together to solve problems or make new advances.

The Technology Strategy Board advises Government on how to remove barriers to innovation and accelerate the exploitation of new technologies. And they work in areas where there is a clear potential business benefit, helping today's emerging technologies become the growth sectors of tomorrow.

For more details about the Technology Strategy Board - click here
For more details about the strategy - click here
For more details about how to get involved - click here
For links into Competitions, Knowledge Transfer Networks and more - click here

Innovation in the creative industries

The Technology Strategy Board has published its first strategy document on technology innovation in the creative industries.

The UK is a world leader in culture and media and these industries make a major contribution to the economy. Technology is challenging existing business models and providing a spur for innovation and growth. The strategy focuses on the priority areas for an innovation focus and we welcome views on its implementation.

Read the strategy report online here


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